The question, whether this territory is not worth all it has cost us, will be variously answered. By those who regard slavery as the comer-stone of our poHtical Uberties, who behold in it a divine institution illustrative of the wisdom and benevolence of the Deity, and an instrument by which those who possess it will be enabled to goveru the whole Repubhc, and mould its policy for their own interest, the acquisition of territoiy which it was expected would give to slavery an indefinite extension, an assured perpetuity, and an overwhelming political preponderance, would of course be regarded as of priceless value. On the other hand, the addition of this territory, should it be used for the purpose for which it was acquired, cannot but be regarded as a direful curse by all who believe slavery to be hostile alike to the will of God and the happiness of man. We have had, in the preceding pages, most abundant proof that this territory would not have been acquired except with a view to the extension of slavery ; and it is therefore just and fair, in estimating its value compared with its cost, to keep in mind for what object that cost was incurred.
23* 2t0 REVIEW OF THE MEXICAN WAR.
The future is hidden from our view, but there is little reason for doubting, that not only Texas, but all New Mexico, will for a long period be doomed to the ignorance, degradation, and misery, which are inseparable from human bondage. Events unexpected and utterly unforeseen, even at the conclusion of the war, have since occurred, which will probably exempt at least a portion of California from the curse of slavery. That portion, however, it is to be feared, will find another and a sore curse in its recently-discovered gold. The mineral wealth in which it is said to abound vrill be shared by a promis- cuous crowd from foreign lands a^ well as our own citi- zens. The eager search for gold in the mines in which it is buried has ever been found hostile to regular industry, and to habits of virtue and frugahty. We have cause to apprehend that the population which will be attracted to this region will not be of a